Bolivia seeks Che Guevara's remains

December 11, 1995
Web posted at: 6:45 p.m. EST

From Correspondent Ronnie Lovler

VALLEGRANDE, Bolivia (CNN) -- Whether the remains of
legendary guerrilla Ernesto "Che" Guevara are buried
alongside the airstrip of this remote Bolivian jungle village
should soon be known. Soldiers began digging a week ago for
his remains.

"Statements by witnesses to the fact have pointed us to the
places where the excavations and diggings are taking place,"
said forensic expert Alejandro Echaurregue. "In my
experience, if those testimonies are reliable the remains
will be found."

The search for Guevara and four other guerrillas buried along
with him is being helped along by the use of modern radar
equipment most frequently used to prospect for minerals.

"If the remains are found, perfect," said geophysicist
Giorgio Stangalino. "If they don't, we can say in scientific
way, 'Gentlemen - there is nothing.'"

Guevara, Fidel Castro's revolutionary deputy, was killed at
Vallegrande in October 1967 after an unsuccessful campaign to
ignite revolution among the peasants who still live in the
surrounding mountain communities.

The Bolivian government gave the order to locate Guevara's
remains after a retired general connected with his capture
and execution said he knew where Guevara was buried.

The general charged with supervising the troops doing the
digging isn't pleased about having to look for what is left
of a man who, for him, was an enemy.

"Undoubtedly, it is for us, an unusual situation to have to
participate in these kind of activities," said Gen. Armando
Alcazar. "We thought this chapter had ended 28 years ago."

But sentiment among the residents of Vallegrande is
strikingly different. One woman said that if Guevara's
remains are found, they should be considered the property of
the town because it is here that he came to foment
revolution.

Another resident still treasures a photograph taken of the
dead Guevara when his body was put on public display in the
village hospital. He, too, says Guevara's remains should
stay in Vallegrande because they might draw tourists.

It's still unclear what will happen with the remains if they
are found, or even why the Bolivian government decided now
was the time to make such an all-out effort to find them.

The search for the remains has sparked worldwide curiosity.
Nearly 30 years later, the mystique of Guevara, as
revolutionary hero and revolutionary martyr, is still alive.